Scotland to host international curling between 2016 and 2020

23 December 2014 / 13:04

Scotland’s rich curling heritage will be on full display in the coming years following the World Curling Federation’s announcement to award the country four international championships between 2016 and 2020.

The multi-hosting agreement starts with the European Championships in 2016 at the Braehead Arena in Renfrewshire and concludes with one of the WCF’s flagship events, the World Men’s Championships in 2020 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

The nation will also host the World Junior Championships in 2018 in Aberdeen and the 2019 World Wheelchair Championships in Stirling.

Of the four curling medals claimed by Great Britain in Winter Olympic history, including men’s gold at Chamonix 1924 and women’s gold at Salt Lake City 2002, all four skips have been Scottish.

At Sochi 2014 Britain celebrated double success as the women’s rink, led by Eve Muirhead, claimed bronze before David Murdoch’s team took silver in the men’s competition.

Scotland has hosted several international championships in the past, most recently the 2014 World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships in Dumfries.

And Bruce Crawford, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club said: “We are delighted that Scotland has been awarded these four international curling championships by the World Curling Federation.

“The bid process has been a collaboration with our partners and the real work begins now as we start turning these ambitious plans into exciting events.

“From today we will start working with new partners, sponsors and volunteers to deliver four successful events across Scotland over the next six years.

“The events give us the opportunity to showcase our best talent and will provide sports fans with the chance to watch world class sport on home soil.

"The established TryCurling programme will be used to bring a lasting legacy for curling by attracting thousands of new people to the sport in the 22 ice rinks that we currently use.”